EDINBURGH, April 17 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – The UK Government has confirmed a new £2.7 billion contract to build 500 new railway carriages that will travel on the main intercity route between Edinburgh and London, linking Scotland and England.
The state-of-the-art trains will be manufactured at Hitcahi’s purpose-built factor in County Durham.
The UK Government has confirmed to RIA Novosti that the investment will proceed regardless of the outcome of September’s independence referendum.
UK Minister David Mundell welcomed the announcement saying the decision would boost jobs and the economy.
“UK wide multibillion pound infrastructure projects like this bring great benefits to businesses, hardworking Scots and families in Scotland,” Mr Mundell said.
“In the years to come we can look forward to improved services on the East Coast Main Line which will boost our economy, create more jobs and make it even easier for more tourists to visit Scotland,” Mr Mundell added.
The new trains are expected to start running on the East Coast Main Line from 2018 and will have greater capacity that the existing rail carriage network.
